2 Mich. members of Congress renew push for auto research funding

Washington -- Two Michigan members of Congress have again introduced legislation seeking to authorize new funding for vehicle research.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Lansing and U.S. Rep. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township on Thursday introduced the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2013 to promote private and public partnerships to improve fuel efficiency. They introduced similar bills in 2011 and 2009; both got caught in Senate filibusters despite bipartisan House support.

The pair says the bill would spur the development of clean auto technologies and "create thousands of good-paying middle-class jobs across our country, especially in Michigan."

Support for research efforts has declined among House Republicans amid an effort to cut spending, and it's unclear if the measure will get a vote this year.

In an interview, Stabenow said the Senate Energy Committee is working on a comprehensive bipartisan energy measure and she's confident funding for research would be part of it.

The bill has been endorsed by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, the Blue-Green Alliance, the United Auto Workers and Eaton Vehicle Group.

The Democratic lawmakers have reintroduced the bill to refine the Department of Energy's program to provide research grants, not just for cars and light trucks, but for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and automotive suppliers, as well.

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The program received just over $300 million in 2010 but has been operating without formal congressional authorization or direction for a number of years. The Energy Department requested $588 million for the program in 2012.

The initiative is separate from a struggling program of Energy Department loans to automakers. The Energy Department has refused to grant any new loans to automakers, despite the fact it only awarded about $8.5 billion in loans out of the $25 billion program that was created by Congress in 2007 and funded in 2008.